Agreement on a Phillip Island aquatic centre has been a long time in the making, writes Pamela Rothfield, and it’s worth waiting a bit longer to get the right place.

By Pamela Rothfield

ACTING in the role of chair in a council meeting requires control and discipline. In order to control the discussion or debate, the chair is expected to remain neutral and encourage the healthy debate of an issue. As one who is quite at home with a robust debate, I find that sometimes I miss the opportunity to join in and offer another perspective on an issue before the chair.

At our most recent council meeting, in March, I decided that on the issue of the proposed location of the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre, which is something very important to me and to the people I represent on Phillip Island, I must remove myself from the chair and involve myself in the debate.

The issue before the chair was the proposal that the future aquatic centre on Phillip Island be located at the south end of what had been designed and planned to be the transit hub. Running between Chapel and Church Streets behind the Cowes Cultural Centre, the transit hub offered over 200 new parking spaces for Cowes.

On the day of the December council meeting, councillors learned of a proposal to squeeze a two-storey aquatic centre, complete with gym facility, into the southern end of the transit hub, thus reducing the parking spaces by about half.

The presentation of the proposed aquatic centre was very professional. We learned what was needed to make an aquatic centre successful in regional Victoria – location was at the forefront. A central location was imperative. We learned that a number of other sites on the island had been considered, and of these sites, the location at the southern end of the proposed transit hub presented the best opportunity for the aquatic centre.

I don’t think I would be wrong in saying that many councillors felt a level of confusion after that presentation. I certainly did.

At last month’s council meeting, we had the opportunity to make the decision on the proposed location of the aquatic centre in Church Street, Cowes. Leading up to the meeting I did a bit of research as to just how much of a strategic imperative a CBD location was for a successful regional aquatic centre. I was also concerned that future expansion to the centre for the Phillip Island community was limited or non-existent.

I also felt that the calculation on the demands on parking was flawed – parking at the revamped transit hub had been reduced to something like 113 spaces, yet the aquatic centre would increase parking requirements – as indeed would the forecast permanent population growth of some 37 per cent by 2035. Then of course, we need to look at the increase in tourism – which has been estimated to double within the next 18 years.How will this affect traffic flows in the CBD? Especially with the health hub almost next door.

Indeed, should our aquatic centre be in the middle of the CDB at all?

I have looked into a number of successful regional aquatic centres. In speaking to the motion during the March council meeting, I drew comparisons on two well-known and beautiful aquatic centres in Mildura and Ballarat.

Mildura’s is certainly centrally located in town – but it is one block out of the CBD. ​

Ballarat Aquatic Centre in the Prince of Wales Park, outside the CBD

Ballarat’s is also “in town” – in the Prince of Wales Park – again not in the CBD.

​I finished by saying that I cannot support an aquatic centre in the proposed location. I know this is disappointing to the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre working group. They have worked tirelessly for more than 20 years and were looking to finally have some “closure” on a location for an aquatic centre on Phillip Island. However, this is not a reason to accept a totally unsuitable position.Phillip Island needs an aquatic centre, I am a great supporter of that, but it does not need a centre to be shoe-horned into a location that presents no future for expansion. A location which is totally unsuitable in relation to traffic congestion and a location which reduces much-needed parking in our CBD.We WILL be looking for and we WILL find a suitable location for the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre. It will offer everything needed for a growing community and will be something to be proud of.Pamela Rothfield is Bass Coast Mayor.

I commend your diligence and fully endorse another example of strong leadership.

I totally agree that, although the deliberations around Phillip Island Aquatics have been long running, to say the least, we will achieve an outcome that provides good amenity and great facilities that encourage people to visit the Island as well as meeting the needs of the community.

I would also like to note my admiration for the decades long effort that the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre working group.

Well done Pam - a great explanation of the decision making process, well reasoned and well written.

And thanks to the BCP for providing a forum for free and open discussion of Council matters.

I wholeheartedly agree with comments made. I would strongly suggest that a far better, fairer and more easily accessible location (particularly at major event times) would be Anderson Roundabout. This location would provide access to thousands more folk in the hinterland and an associated cafe would become a regular meeting place to thousands of visitors too

Reply

Pamela J Gill JP

1/4/2017 12:34:43 pm

Thank you Pam, for your common sence. Traffic on Phillip Island is an ongoing problem we do not want to make it even worse.

Ventnor Road, ajoining the Circus land, I understand the shire bought back from them! would be ideal for this venture.

We must think ahead, Phillip Island is not the quiet little hamlet it used to be. We all need to realize that, and look to the future.
Well done and keep up the good work.

Reply

Ian Samuel

1/4/2017 05:24:29 pm

Pam needs to be congratulated on her rational analysis and support for a Cowe's based Aquatic Centre
There is only one chance to build this important community facility in a location which provides for potential expansion and access to vehicle traffic.
I concur with Pamela Gill that location of the facility at the Ventnor road property acquired by the Bass Coast Council for this purpose is the appropriate site.

Reply

Ray McNamara

2/4/2017 04:54:18 pm

Thanks to the Mayor for a good synopsis on the current state of thinking/action about the proposed Aquatic Centre.
I agree that it needs to be in a location that is readily accessible to residents and visitors alike. So, what is the expected patronage? How much will be local schools? How much will be other local residents groups? What time of day/night?
These sorts of data will allow Island people to make there own assessments of "traffic" issues too, and give their feedback to local Councillors.
I have always believed that the best location for a pool and other related facilities would be together with other sporting bodies (ie all those clubs and groups that use the Cowes Recreation Reserve) who have a shared need for good parking, great change rooms, meeting rooms and sports medicine support such as hydrotherapy, water aerobics, cool-downs and general fitness activities.
So, is the Rec reserve the best place for a pool?
Or, should the Ventnor Rd property be planned to accommodate all major sports needs on the Island and become the local home for all sporting bodies in Cowes (pool, tennis, cricket, football, netball, basketball)?
The existing Rec Reserve could become more passive open space for residents (dog walkers, joggers, boot camps etc). Just a thought.

Reply

Phil

5/10/2017 11:47:54 am

The pool should be at Ventnor Rd if we must have one so maximum patronage can be had reducing the loss to ratepayers. I agree Ray that all sporting bodies should be relocated to this site especially the soccer club at Newhaven. It is a pity that the "wise commissioners" of Bass Coast Shire at amalgamation sold off the original land purchased by the Phillip Island Shire at a very reasonable price. I believe the Phillip Island Council had plans to accommodate the sporting bodies in one location. The repurchase of a portion of the original shows how short sighted Bass Coast Council were at amalgamation.

Mark Robertson

4/4/2017 06:11:13 pm

I hope that the proponents of the Phillip Island Aquatic centre can display as much community enthusiasm and fund -raising fervour as the Wonthaggi community did ,so many years ago. Because of the vision shown by my father, and others, we have been able to provide the entire Bass Coast with an all-weather aquatic facility for many decades. Many fundraising efforts were employed to make it an affordable and useful reality. Could the proponents and council please commit to a similar, useful and affordable facility for the Island? It is all about the water, not the expensive and superfluous addenda. Given the current councils stated quest for fiscal responsibility ,I would hope that the solution comes not replete with bells and whistles.......

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